LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL met in special session to vote an urgency ordinance prohibiting all commercial cannabis activity, both medical and non-medical, except for deliveries of medical cannabis and finding the ordinance exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
Council member Joy Markum and Mayor Mark Marin thanked the community for its support. “You all mean a lot,” stated the mayor and added, “Sierra Brooks and outlying areas.”
From the audience Jeff Naughton owner of a cannabis medical dispensary business, Evexia Science in Truckee, who had taken out a business license for Loyalton, stated the ordinance was 4/5 majority even in a short council. He claimed he was trying to do it legally and go by the rules but they cannot have a vote that holds up.
City Attorney Steve Gross addressed Naughton stating 4/5 is 80% and 3 votes of the council is 100%. He said the council can act and the requirement is all three vote
affirmatively for the health safety and welfare of the community.
Not to drag it out, it was stated there’d been three major meetings on this subject, two with the public and one major council meeting, all with standing-room only.
Augustine from Evexia, verified the existing ordinance in Loyalton is reputing that. Gross stated it didn’t do anything and is not in conflict.
Public Comment included Sue McIlravy who questioned drug treatment.
Gross answered the ordinance does not affect treatment of adult facilities nor drug treatment. He said there is no ordinance that would prohibit that. John Evans stated Loyalton is all about raising cattle, sheep, alfalfa and kids, not an environment for cannabis and hoping to disallow cultivation in Loyalton. Staci Armstrong urged the council to pass the ordinance, not targeting adults but our children. Samantha Engle had just left the bay area for a better lifestyle and doesn’t want it here. Brooks Mitchell questioned cottage industry which the city allows and Gross said it would cover them and ban cannabis everywhere in the city.
Joy Markum moved, Nancy Rogers seconded and Mayor Marin agreed to pass the urgency ordinance.
Council member Joy Markum and Mayor Mark Marin thanked the community for its support. “You all mean a lot,” stated the mayor and added, “Sierra Brooks and outlying areas.”
From the audience Jeff Naughton owner of a cannabis medical dispensary business, Evexia Science in Truckee, who had taken out a business license for Loyalton, stated the ordinance was 4/5 majority even in a short council. He claimed he was trying to do it legally and go by the rules but they cannot have a vote that holds up.
City Attorney Steve Gross addressed Naughton stating 4/5 is 80% and 3 votes of the council is 100%. He said the council can act and the requirement is all three vote
affirmatively for the health safety and welfare of the community.
Not to drag it out, it was stated there’d been three major meetings on this subject, two with the public and one major council meeting, all with standing-room only.
Augustine from Evexia, verified the existing ordinance in Loyalton is reputing that. Gross stated it didn’t do anything and is not in conflict.
Public Comment included Sue McIlravy who questioned drug treatment.
Gross answered the ordinance does not affect treatment of adult facilities nor drug treatment. He said there is no ordinance that would prohibit that. John Evans stated Loyalton is all about raising cattle, sheep, alfalfa and kids, not an environment for cannabis and hoping to disallow cultivation in Loyalton. Staci Armstrong urged the council to pass the ordinance, not targeting adults but our children. Samantha Engle had just left the bay area for a better lifestyle and doesn’t want it here. Brooks Mitchell questioned cottage industry which the city allows and Gross said it would cover them and ban cannabis everywhere in the city.
Joy Markum moved, Nancy Rogers seconded and Mayor Marin agreed to pass the urgency ordinance.
